AT&T Hit with Another Class Action Over Alleged Pregnancy Discrimination

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A former AT&T employee has filed a proposed class action lawsuit against the company over alleged discrimination and adverse employment consequences she claims she experienced as a result of AT&T’s refusal to excuse pregnancy-related work absences.

Filed in Georgia, the lawsuit states the plaintiff, a Las Vegas resident, worked as a retail employee for defendants AT&T Mobility Services LLC and AT&T Services, Inc. from December 2012 through April 2017. At issue in the complaint is AT&T’s reported “Sales Attendance Guidance Policy (SAG),” which the plaintiff claims is responsible for the defendants’ alleged refusal to grant excused absences for pregnancy, childbirth, and other related medical conditions.

“AT&T’s refusal to excuse absences, late arrivals, and early departures related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions constitutes intentional discrimination in violation of Title VII [of the Civil Rights Act of 1964],” the suit argues.

Echoing claims detailed in a previous lawsuit filed against the defendants in Indiana in May 2018, the complaint says that while AT&T’s SAG policy allows for excused absences, late arrivals and early departures in 13 specific situations, noticeably absent from the policy is any mention of pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. Per the plaintiff, the suit claims AT&T assigned the woman infraction “points” for her pregnancy-related absences, late arrivals and early departures while overlooking those of her coworkers that were non-pregnancy-related. All told, AT&T’s SAG policy disproportionately harms female employees, the lawsuit alleges.

The plaintiff further alleges the defendants, in addition to refusing to approve pregnancy-related absences, failed to provide reasonable accommodations for her pregnancy-related disabilities, an apparent violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Even further, the lawsuit includes an individual claim from the plaintiff over alleged interference and retaliation the woman experienced in her efforts to obtain excused absences to deal with her pregnancy and care for her sick son.